17 
Dr. R. 0. Cunningham on the Solan Goose. 
sited in its place. It is of an elliptical form, with a dull rough 
surface, and in its original state is white, but is almost always 
more or less patched with yellowish-brown dirt, although I have 
never seen it stained with blood, as is frequently the case with 
the egg of the American bird, according to Dr. Bryant. I have 
been informed on good authority that the albumen does not 
become white when it is boiled, but remains clear and colourless; 
but I cannot speak from personal knowledge of the fact. Ac¬ 
cording to Macgillivray “it is subjected to what might appear 
rough usage, for the bird in alighting, flying, or when disturbed 
by human visitors tosses it about and stands upon it.” This 
habit has probably given rise to the assertion that the egg is 
hatched by the foot. 
The Gannet is but little adapted for progression on land, its 
gait being an awkward waddle. Judging from the descriptions 
of Selby and Macgillivray, these birds appear to have been in a 
very amiable state at the time of their visits to the Bass; for 
the former states that during incubation, “in consequence of 
being unmolested, they become very tame; and, where the nests 
are easily accessible upon the flat surface of the rock on the south¬ 
west side of the island, will allow themselves to be stroked by the 
hand without resistance, or any show even of impatience, except 
the low guttural cry of grog , grog ; ” while the latter author says 
that, when sitting, “ the Gannets usually allow a person to ap¬ 
proach within three feet, sometimes much nearer, so that one may 
touch them. When one approaches them they merely open their 
bill, and utter the usual cry, or they rise on their feet and express 
some degree of resentment, but little apprehension of danger.” 
When I visited the island three years ago my experience was 
widely different; for the old birds manifested every symptom of 
displeasure, and even a young bird, but a few weeks hatched, 
squeaked angrily and made impotent demonstrations of self-de¬ 
fence with its soft little bill. Prof. Innes also, in a note to St. 
John's ‘ Natural History and Sport in Moray/ mentions (p. 204) 
an instance in which a young man suffered for his temerity in ven¬ 
turing to meddle with a gosling in the downy stage; for the in¬ 
furiated parent made a swoop at his face, and, narrowly missing 
his eye, caught him by the nose. I can likewise bear witness 
N. S.-VOL. II. 
C 
